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Profile

For almost four decades, Nina Cortell has represented corporations, public entities and individuals in cases that have put her at the forefront of Texas litigation practice. Chambers USA, Chambers & Partners, ranks her as one of the top appellate lawyers in Texas. She has also been named as one of the top ten lawyers in Texas by Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2010-2014, and by Texas Lawyer as one of twenty "Winning Women" across Texas who "have achieved significant recent victories as well as a track record of wins in which they prevailed in high-stakes cases,” ALM Media Properties, LLC, 2014.

Nina’s record includes significant victories in both state and federal appellate courts, as well as in trial courts. Recent examples include the voiding of a $29 million liquidated damage provision in the Texas Supreme Court, affirmance of $3.6 billion plan of reorganization in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, reversal of a highly contested venue order in the Dallas Court of Appeals, and dismissal of a shareholder derivative suit in the trial court.

Nina also places a high priority on community service. She is proud of her role as a co-founder of the Center for Women in Law at the University of Texas School of Law, which is devoted to enhancing the success of women in law and serves as a national resource to convene leaders, generate ideas, and lead change. Nina also works actively with the judiciary to improve the judicial process. Her current work includes her service on the prestigious Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee, which is comprised of judges and attorneys from across the state and advises the Court in connection with its rule-making authority.

For her community service, Nina is honored to have received the 2013 Jack Pope Professionalism Award from the Texas Center for Legal Ethics (given annually to one lawyer who personifies the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in the field of law), the 2012 University of Texas School of Law Distinguished Alumnus Award for Community Service, and the 1999 Louise B. Raggio Award for significant contributions toward the advancement of women in the legal profession.

Lawyer of the Year

Best Lawyers® has recognized seven Texas-based Haynes and Boone, LLP attorneys as “2015 Lawyers of the Year.” Based on peer-review surveys, the legal guide designated a single lawyer per practice specialty in each geographic region.

Persuaded the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to dismiss the appeal of a $3.6 billion bankruptcy plan of reorganization, which was challenged by a competing bidder and the company's union. In the Matter of Asarco L.L.C., Cause No. 09-41259 (5th Cir. 2010).

Professional and Community Activities

President (2005-2007) and Master, Patrick E. Higginbotham Inn of Court

Member, Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee

Member, American Law Institute

President (2008-2009), University of Texas School of Law Alumni Association

President, Board of Directors of the Texas Law Review Association (2012-2013)

Founder and President, Center for Women in Law at the University of Texas School of Law

Trustee, University of Texas Law School Foundation

Trustee, Dallas Bar Foundation

Advisory Board Member, Dallas Women Lawyers Association (2000-2009)

Chair, State Bar Task Force on Hiring, Retention and Promotion of Women and Minorities in Law Firms and Corporations (2006)

Professional Recognition

Recognized as one of the Top 250 Women in Litigation, Benchmark Litigation, Legal Media Group, Euromoney Institutional Investor (2012-2015)

Named by Texas Lawyer as one of twenty "Winning Women" in the state, ALM Media Properties, LLC (2014)

Chosen by the Texas Center for Legal Ethics (TCLE) to receive one of two 2013 Jack Pope Professionalism Awards, which annually recognize one lawyer and one judge who personify the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in the field of law

Best Lawyers' 2015 Dallas Appellate Lawyer of the Year and 2013 Dallas Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year, with other recognitions in both categories, Woodward/White, Inc. (2006-2015)

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